Why is Luke 17:36 omitted in some Bible translations? The Text in Question Luke 17:36 (BSB footnote): “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.” Primary Reason for the Omission Many modern English translations either bracket the verse or relegate it to a marginal note because their New Testament base text follows the earliest complete Greek manuscripts, where this sentence does not appear. The verse is present in the Textus Receptus and therefore in the KJV/NKJV, but absent from the critical editions of Nestle-Aland/UBS and the Majority Text apparatus adopted by the Berean Standard Bible for its main line. Probable Origin of the Variant Internal considerations point to scribal harmonization with Matthew 24:40, which contains almost the identical wording. Since both Gospel contexts deal with sudden eschatological separation, a well-meaning scribe appears to have inserted the Matthean line into Luke to “complete” the parallel. Assimilation like this is a common, well-documented phenomenon (e.g., compare the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11 and Matthew 6). Why Translations Differ • KJV/NKJV: Based on Erasmus’ 1516 Textus Receptus, constructed primarily from late Byzantine manuscripts that included the sentence. • Modern translations (ESV, NIV, CSB main text): Rely on critical eclectic texts that weigh manuscripts by age, geographical spread, and external/internal probabilities. Because the earliest and geographically diverse witnesses omit the verse, it is left out of the running text and placed in a footnote for transparency. Providential Preservation and Variants Across 5,800+ Greek NT manuscripts, fewer than 1% of all textual variants are both viable and meaningful. The Lord has ensured that His word endures (Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35), and even in places where copyists differed, the original reading is recoverable with overwhelming confidence. This small verse functions as a textbook demonstration: scholars can identify where, when, and why the addition occurred, illustrating rather than undermining the robustness of Scripture’s transmission. Pastoral Takeaway Christ’s warning stands: sudden separation will accompany His return. Whether one reads Luke 17:34-35 alone or includes v. 36, the call is identical—be reconciled to God now through the risen Lord Jesus, for “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). |
    |